‘Run Dollywood’ to debut in 2026 as inaugural race weekend
Run Dollywood, a series of running events, will launch in 2026 featuring a signature half-marathon race as well as a 5k, 10k, and 1-mile fun run.
The inaugural Run Dollywood race weekend will take place April 24-26, 2026, at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The park announced the event on Sept. 10, 2025.
Participants will run through Dollywood and outside the park, with live music and entertainment along the race course.
Here’s the schedule for the 2026 Run Dollywood race weekend:
- Friday, April 24
- Bib pick-up
- Race Expo (inside ballroom at HeartSong Lodge & Resort)
- Saturday, April 25
- 1-mile fun run for kids ages 4-12
- 5k race
- 10k race
- Sunday, April 26
- half-marathon
All runners will receive a t-shirt, race bib, and medal.
Registration for the Run Dollywood race weekend 2026 is not live at the time of this writing, but prospective runners can sign up for future updates on the Dollywood website.
Also in 2026, Dollywood will unveil a new ride, rumored to utilize an innovative ride system involving boats.
Run Dollywood follows in the footsteps of other theme park running events from Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld. Walt Disney World in particular has carved an entire season of runDisney events (during winter months) that attract thousands of participants. (Check out our guide to runDisney for beginners.)
Stay tuned to Attractions Magazine for daily coverage of theme park news, trip reports, and exclusive interviews from Dollywood, Disney, Universal, and independent attractions around the world.
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